WILLIAMS — Southwestern Regional Forester Cal Joyner recently announced that the new forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest will be Heather Provencio, who currently serves as the deputy forest supervisor on the White River National Forest in Colorado.

“We’re excited to have Heather return to the Southwestern Region. She has a people-centered view of the environment that I believe is the proper focus for finding a creative balance that meets the needs of the forest, the surrounding communities and tribes, as well as employees,” Joyner said. “Heather’s strong grounding in northern Arizona will allow her to quickly gather momentum and move ahead on implementing the new Kaibab Forest Plan, Four Forest Restoration Initiative and fire management programs.”

Provencio is no stranger to northern Arizona and its landscape, people, challenges and opportunities, having worked in various jobs on the Coconino National Forest adjacent to the Kaibab from 2001 until 2013, including as the district ranger for the Red Rock Ranger District headquartered in Sedona, Ariz.

“I am excited by the idea of getting back to northern Arizona, which I consider home,” Provencio said. “I am also excited by the challenges that I know await me on the Kaibab and the learning and professional growth that those will bring. I am very much looking forward to being part of and leading a cohesive and exceptional team of employees who take on difficult issues and still find time to do critically important work like connecting the public with their National Forests.”

Provencio was born and raised in southern Illinois and grew up in a Forest Service family. She moved to Arizona in 1982 to attend Northern Arizona University and pursue a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology. Her first job with the Forest Service was in 1985 as a firefighter on the Chevelon Ranger District of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, after with she held a variety of positions in archaeology, recreation and business administration until returning to school to pursue her master’s degree in anthropology. She then held positions as an archaeologist and tribal liaison before becoming a district ranger and, subsequently, a deputy forest supervisor. Provencio is scheduled to begin her role as forest supervisor of the Kaibab National Forest Oct. 5.

“I will strive to be an excellent leader for the employees of the Kaibab and our communities and partners. They deserve nothing less, so I will continually work on improving my skills as a leader,” Provencio said. “I hope to create strong connections between our employees, the Forest Service lands we manage, and the public.”